Alita: Battle Angel is a cyberpunk action film based upon Japanese manga series Gunnm. This movie is the first installment in what is going to be a franchise centered around a sympathetic female cyborg with outstanding fighting skills who protects those who are dear to her in a dystopian world. This first movie tells how Alita is brought back to life by generous scientist Ido who is also secretely a Hunter-Warrior who tracks down criminal cyborgs. Against the will of the scientist, Alita gets inspired by her mentor's secret career and starts her own as the rookie soon impresses colleagues with her determination, empathy and skills. She also falls in love with young dreamer Hugo and befriends the members of his quirky gang. Everything seems to be perfect in Alita's new world but her mysterious past resurfaces in dangerous situations and leads her on an exhausting quest for identity. In addition to this, her admired lover Hugo hides a terrible secret from her. The greatest danger however comes from influential administrators and politicians who soon hire hitmen to uncover Alita's mysterious past and eliminate a respectable opponent that could change a dystopian world for the better.

Alita: Battle Angel convinces if compared to numerous exchangeable superhero films by Marvel or DC Comics for three specific reasons. First of all, the heroine is dynamic, empathic and positive which makes her very likeable and viewers empathize with her. Secondly, the movie focuses on strong characters and a mysterious plot instead of overusing visual special effects. Thirdly, the film takes its time to develop characters and story carefully, creating a most fascinating, detailed and adventurous universe that leaves the viewers craving for potential sequels in the future.

The movie also convinces in many technical departments. The visuals are stunningly beautiful, creative and diversified. The sound effects are very efficient and best enjoyed at your local cinema. The soundtrack is balanced, catchy and dynamic. The action sequences are colourful without feeling too exaggerated.

The movie manages to keep a balance between emotional settings and technically stunning effects. Even though some parts of the plot are predictable and the film doesn't reinvent the genre of superhero movies, it's certainly one of the greatest of its kind and worth the positive hype. Robert Rodriguez has created a memorable film that can nearly compete with his masterpiece Sin City and it's positive that the influence of formulaic director James Cameron has been reduced to scriptwriting in this case. The outstanding performances by underrated lead actress Rosa Salazar and charismatic veteran actor Christoph Waltz must also be pointed out as they are perfect choices for the characters they play. Go watch this stunning movie with your whole family.

The cover artwork of Muse’s eighth studio record Simulation Theory makes me think of movie posters for cinematic blockbuster Ready Player One. Since the movie takes place in a dystopian future but references popular culture of the eighties, this comparison makes even more sense because Muse offers the musical equivalent of it. This record is an electronic rock record with domineering synthetic soundscapes and some references to experimental pop music of the eighties from Ultravox, Pet Shop Boys and Giorgio Moroder. 

While the band certainly explores new soundscapes on this record, it feels as if the trio were jumping the retro chic hype train. The combination of futuristic electronic elements and mellow pop melodies might sound intriguing at first contact but ends up sounding repetitive, formulaic and even lifeless. The last element is the record’s biggest problem as it sounds devoid of any emotion. There isn’t one emotive keyboard layer, gripping vocal line, passionate guitar solo, surprising bass rhythm or vivid drum pattern on this release. 

Aside of the facts that the popular British trio continues to experiment nearly twenty-five years into its career and that the record has a clear guiding line, there aren’t any positive elements to mention. This album sounds soulless to me. Fans of electronic pop music might partially like this record but those who admired the band’s past alternative and progressive rock soundscapes will be disappointed by this lifeless release.

Final rating: 20%

Inspired by the acoustic re-imagination of Dead End Kings released as Dethroned & Uncrowned, Katatonia went on a short acoustic tour playing in exotic locations such as London's Union Chapel where this release was recorded. The band didn't only feature songs from its acoustic album but performed tracks from many other records acoustically which gives them completely different soundscapes. Since it was a very short tour, it's quite appropriate to give fans all around the world the occasion to appreciate its moments of magic on screen.

The appeasing, melodic and timid guitar play, the smooth yet playful percussive work and the soothing and melancholic vocals complement one another and create an enchanting atmosphere in a beautiful building illuminated by candlelight in front of an intimate and welcoming crowd. Even though the band members were nervous performing such an unusual show, they pulled it off in a versatile way as this album might be the most technically impressive of the Swedish band so far. 

Even the session musicians and guest singer Silje Wergeland of The Gathering fame are perfectly integrated and harmonize with the core trio of Katatonia after some complicated line-up changes. 

The sound of the concert is crystal clear and the image quality is equally convincing. Pointing out any specific songs on this release wouldn't make much sense since the sum is greater than its parts. Be assured that all tracks have been arranged very carefully and that there is no filler material to be found.

This release also features a one-hour long documentary which actually consists of a very long interview with Anders Nyström and Jonas Renkse. Even though this feature might seem boring at first sight, the questions they are asked are quite intimate and interesting and show that the interviewer was perfectly familiar with the band history. The two musicians give careful but honest answers that will help the spectator learn more about the past, present and future of the band.

In the end, Katatonia's Sanctitude features an atmospheric, creative and skillful acoustic concert where the band pushes its boundaries and experiences a career-changing event. The acoustic album Dethroned & Uncrowned was already quite convincing but these live renditions of diversified acoustic songs are even more essential. It doesn't matter if you are a fan of rock music, metal music or even gothic music as this intimate release should definitely please your eyes and ears.

Final rating: 90%